Taraba crisis: 264 persons died in Mambilla Plateau – Ishaku

The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, on Wednesday disclosed that 264 persons were confirmed to have been killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed during the 2017/2018 crisis on the Mambilla Plateau, Sadauna Local Government Area of the State.

Ishaku, who regretted the casualty figure, however, said: “The Assessment Committee which visited 53 communities in the area, discovered that 264 people were killed and not the over 1000 as reported by the media.”

He added that “209 residents were displaced, 19,464 cattle, 6071 sheep killed while a tea processing plant, among other valuable properties were burnt.”

The Governor gave the sum of N310 million to the victims. Relief materials were also donated to alleviate their sufferings.

“I am not here to compensate the victims of the crisis that occurred here on Mambila Plateau. Government does not have enough to compensate you on how much you lost, left alone the number of human beings that were killed.

“I am here to support you so that you can start living relatively better; to also encourage you to co-exist in harmony,” he said.

The Governor warned the people of Mambilla and Tarabans to “exercise restraint”, as he urged all to be law abiding and to always consult traditional rulers when there is confusion.

Ishaku also called on people of the area to reciprocate the good gesture offered to them by people of Cameroon when they hosted them during their difficulties, by accommodating them now that they (Cameroon citizens) are seeking refuge in Nigeria.